Dispensing container for wire or the like

ABSTRACT

A dispensing container for wire or the like comprising an opentopped receptacle, a lid for the receptacle adapted to close the receptacle to confine the contents of the receptacle and means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle to provide an annular space between the top of the receptacle and the lid through which to dispense the contents of the receptacle. The means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle comprise an element which is non-functional when the lid is in position closing the receptacle and which is disposable in lid supporting position when the contents of the receptacle are to be dispensed. The container may comprise an element vertically telescoping with a portion of the receptacle, which element carries the lid. The receptacle preferably has an inner vertical wall forming a core around which the contents of the receptacle are disposed and the element carrying the lid preferably telescopes with the inner vertical wall of the receptacle. The means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle may comprise a hook-like element hooking over the top of a portion of the receptacle and having a portion vertically supporting the lid. The hook-like element may hook over the top of the inner vertical wall of the receptacle and may have a portion underlying the element carrying the lid.

United States Patent [1 1 Lefever DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR WIRE OR THE LIKE [75] Inventor: Richard M. Lefever, Springettsbury Twp., York County, Pa.

[731 Assignee: Teledyne, Inc,, Los Angeles, Calif. [22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 240,712

[52] US. Cl 242/129, 206/52 W, 242/140 [51] Int. Cl B65h 49/00, B65h 55/00 [58] Field of Search... 242/129, 134, 140, 137-138;

Primary Examiner-Leonard D. Christian Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward Hoopes, III

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT A dispensing container for wire or the like comprising an open-topped receptacle, a lid for the receptacle [451 May 7, 1974 adapted to close the receptacle to confine the contents of the receptacle and means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle to provide an annular space between the top of the receptacle and the lid through which to dispense the contents of the receptacle. The means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle comprise an element which is non-functional when the lid is in position closing the receptacle and which is disposable in lid supporting position when the contents of the receptacle are to be dispensed. The container may comprise an element vertically telescoping with a portion of the receptacle,'which element carries the lid. The receptacle preferably has an inner vertical wall forming a core around which the contents of the receptacle are disposed and the element carrying-the lid preferably telescopes with the inner vertical wall of the receptacle. The means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle may comprise a hook-like element hooking over the top of a portion of the receptacle and having a portion vertically supporting the lid. The hook-like element may hook over the top of the inner vertical wall of the receptacle and may have a portion underlying the element carrying the lid.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR WIRE OR THE LIKE This invention relates to a dispensing container for wire or the like. It relates more particularly to a container for a coil of wire or the like which may be used for shipping and storing the wire or the like and which may be adapted for dispensing the wire or the like.

My container and dispenser was developed and is es pecially adapted for containing and dispensing welding wire which is supplied by the manufacturer in coils. As welding proceeds the wire is fed progressively from the coil to the welding site. Heretofore coils of welding wire have been supplied in drums having removable lids. Typically such drums have been of a type having a central cylindrical core which with the outer wall of the drum defines an annular coil receiving space. In withdrawing wire from the drum there has often been a tendency for loops of wire adjacent to the section being withdrawn to twist and flip over the core, causing difficulties in feeding. In order to avoid such problems, prior practice has been to remove the drum lid andlay it aside and then to apply to the drum a device known in the trade as a slinger ring, providing an annular vertical opening at the top of the drum through which the wire has been fed to the welding site. The drum with the slinger ring applied has been placed on a turntable and as the wire has been progressively withdrawn through the annular vertical opening at the top of the drum the turntable has rotated at a speed determined by the speed of welding. Use of slinger rings, however, is inconvenient if only one such ring is available because the ring must be transferred from one drum to another when the first is emptied or when changing from one type of welding wire to another; the alternative of maintaining a supply of slinger rings sufficient for all the drums in use in a welding shop is economically undesirable.

I do away with the slinger ring and provide a selfcontained unit comprising a drum or receptacle and a lid with means for supporting the lid in partially open position providing an annular opening, preferably horizontal, above the top of the receptacle through which the wire is fed to the welding site as the turntable carrying the receptacle rotates.

I provide a container and dispenser for wire or the like comprising an open-topped receptacle, a lid for the receptacle adapted to close the receptacle to confine the contents of the receptacle and means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle to provide an annular space between the top of the receptacle and the lid through which to dispense the contents of the receptacle. The means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle comprise an element which is non-functional when the lid is in position closing the receptacle and which is disposable in lid supporting position when the contents of the receptacle are to be dispensed. The container may comprise an element vertically telescoping with a portion of the receptacle, which element carries the lid. The receptacle preferably has an inner vertical wall forming a core around which the contents of the receptacle are disposed and the element carrying the lid preferably telescopes with the inner vertical wall of the receptacle. The means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle may comprise a hook-like element hooking over the top of a portion of the receptacle and having a portion vertically supporting the lid. The hook-like element may hook over the top of the inner vertical wall of the receptacle and may have a portion underlying the element carrying the lid.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated diagrammatically a present preferred embodiment of the invention, in which FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a container and dispenser for wire or the like adapted for dispensing wire from a coil;

FIG. 2 is an isometricview of the container and dispenser of FIG. 1 but in closed condition adapted for shipping and storage; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the container and dispenser as it is shown in FIG. 1, the wire being withdrawn, which is nearer to the eye than the vertical plane on which the cross section is taken, being indicated by chain lines.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, my container and dispenser for wire or the like comprises an open-topped receptacle A, a lid B and an element C constituting means-for supporting the lid B in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle A to provide an annular space S between the top of the receptacle and the lidthrough which to dispense the contents of the receptacle.

The receptacle A in the form shown is a drum having a bottom 2 and cylindrical side wall 3. Integral with the drum (permanently attached to the bottom 2 at 4) is an inner vertical wall 5 forming a core around which the contents of the receptacle are disposed. The contents of the receptacle are shown as being a coil of welding wire 6.

The lid B is carried by a permanently attached element 7 vertically telescoping with the inner vertical wall or core 5 of the receptacle A. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the element 7 telescopes snugly within the core 5.

The receptacle A has a reinforced top rim 8, and the lid B has a rim 9 interfitting with the rim 8 of the receptacle when the receptacle is closed. The lid may be locked on by a clamping ring 10.

The element C in the form shown is a hook-like element hooking over the top of the core 5 and having a portion vertically supporting the lid. The element C has oppositely facing hooks at its respective ends.

When the container and dispenser with a coil of wire therein is shipped and stored the element C is nonfunctional and is for convenience disposed within the core 5, simply'lying on the bottom 2 of the receptacle A. When the wire of the core is to be dispensed the lid B with the permanently attached element 7 is completely removed and the element C.is hooked over the top of the core 5 with the bottom hook within the core 5 as shown in FIG. 3. Then the lid B with the permanently attached element 7 is replaced and moved downwardly until the bottom of the element 7 seats' in the bottom hook of the element C as shown in FIG. 3. This provides the vertical annular space 5 between the top of the receptacle A and the lid B through which the wire 6 may be dispensed. The receptacle is placed on a turntable and as the wire is fed to the welding site it is progressively withdrawn through the annular space S as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate the position of the emerging portion of wire when it is first withdrawn. As is known to those skilled in the art, further withdrawal of the wire pulls one or more turns in snugly around the core 5, whereupon continuing withdrawal of the wire causes rotation of the turntable and receptacle. 7

If less than all of the wire is used for welding the lid B with the permanently attached element 7 is removed, the element C is removed and dropped into the core 5 and the lid B and element 7 are replaced and moved down to the closed position as shown in FIG. 2. The lid may be locked on by the clamping ring 10.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A dispensing container for wire or the like comprising a receptacle closed at one end and open at the other end having a peripheral wall extending between the ends, means disposed entirely within the peripheral wall adapted to be encircled by the wire or the like constituting the contents of the receptacle, a lid for the receptacle adapted to close the open end of the receptacle to confine the contents of the receptacle and means for supporting the lid in a position spaced outwardly of the open end of the receptacle to provide an annular space between the open end of the receptacle and the lid through which to dispense the contents of the receptacle. 1

2. A dispensing container for wire or the like comprising an open-topped receptacle, a lid for the receptacle adapted to close the receptacle to confine the contents of the receptacle and means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle to provide an annular space between the top of the receptacle and the lid through which to dispense the contents of the receptacle, the means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle comprising an element which is nonfunctional when the lid is in position closing the receptacle and which is disposable in lid supporting position when the contents of the receptacle are to be dispensed.

3. A dispensing container for wire or the like com prising an open-topped receptacle, a lid for the receptacle adapted to close the receptacle to confine the contents of the receptacle and means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle to provide an annular space between the top of the receptacle and the lid through which to dispense the contents of the receptacle, the container and dispenser comprising an element vertically telescoping with a portion of the receptacle, which element carries the lid.

4. A dispensing container for wire or thelike comprising an open-topped receptacle, a lid for the receptacle adapted to close the receptacle to confine the contents of the receptacle and meansfor supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle to provide an annular space between the top of the receptacle and the lid through which to dispense the contents of the receptacle, the receptacle having an inner vertical wall forming a core around which the contents of the receptacle are disposed and an element carrying the lid telescoping with the inner vertical wall of the receptacle.

5. A dispensing container for wire or the like as claimed in claim 4 in which the means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle comprise an element which 4 is non-functional when the lid is in position closing the receptacle and which is disposable in position to' support the element carrying the lid upon the inner vertical wall of the receptacle when the contents of the receptacle are to be dispensed.

6. A dispensing container for wire or the like as claimed in claim 4 in which the means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of. the receptacle comprise a hook-like element hooking over the top of the inner vertical wall of the receptacle and having a portion underlying the element carrying the lid.

7. A dispensing container for wire or the like comprising an open-topped receptacle, a lid for the receptacle adapted to close the receptacle to confine the contents of the receptacle and means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle to provide an annular space'between the top of the receptacle and the lid through which to dispense the contents of the receptacle, the means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle comprising an element which is separate from and non-functional with respect to the receptacle and lid when the lid is in position closing the receptacle and which is appliable in lid supporting position when the contents of the receptacle are to be dispensed.

8. A dispensing container for wire or the like as claimed in claim 7 in which the means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle comprise a hook-like element hooking over the top of a portion of the receptacle and having a portion vertically supporting the lid.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (IlZIFIIFHi/YFE 0F. CURRECTIUN Patent No. 3 809,333 I Dated 7 May a 7 1974 Inventor(s) Riehard M. Lefever It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2-, line 55, change core'" to -coil'- Signed and sealed-this 10th: dayiofsepte mber 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON, JR.. c MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A dispensing container for wire or the like comprising a receptacle closed at one end and open at the other end having a peripheral wall extending between the ends, means disposed entirely within the peripheral wall adapted to be encircled by the wire or the like constituting the contents of the receptacle, a lid for the receptacle adapted to close the open end of the receptacle to confine the contents of the receptacle and means for supporting the lid in a position spaced outwardly of the open end of the receptacle to provide an annular space between the open end of the receptacle and the lid through which to dispense the contents of the receptacle.
 2. A dispensing container for wire or the like comprising an open-topped receptacle, a lid for the receptacle adapted to close the receptacle to confine the contents of the receptacle and means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle to provide an annular space between the top of the receptacle and the lid through which to dispense the contents of the receptacle, the means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle comprising an element which is non-functional when the lid is in position closing the receptacle and which is disposable in lid supporting position when the contents of the receptacle are to be dispensed.
 3. A dispensing container for wire or the like comprising an open-topped receptacle, a lid for the receptacle adapted to close the receptacle to confine the contents of the receptacle and means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle to provide an annular space between the top of the receptacle and the lid through which to dispense the contents of the receptacle, the container and dispenser comprising an element vertically telescoping with a portion of the receptacle, which element carries the lid.
 4. A dispensing container for wire or the like comprising an open-topped receptacle, a lid for the receptacle adapted to close the receptacle to confine the contents of the receptacle and means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle to provide an annular space between the top of the receptacle and the lid through which to dispense the contents of the receptacle, the receptacle having an Inner vertical wall forming a core around which the contents of the receptacle are disposed and an element carrying the lid telescoping with the inner vertical wall of the receptacle.
 5. A dispensing container for wire or the like as claimed in claim 4 in which the means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle comprise an element which is non-functional when the lid is in position closing the receptacle and which is disposable in position to support the element carrying the lid upon the inner vertical wall of the receptacle when the contents of the receptacle are to be dispensed.
 6. A dispensing container for wire or the like as claimed in claim 4 in which the means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle comprise a hook-like element hooking over the top of the inner vertical wall of the receptacle and having a portion underlying the element carrying the lid.
 7. A dispensing container for wire or the like comprising an open-topped receptacle, a lid for the receptacle adapted to close the receptacle to confine the contents of the receptacle and means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle to provide an annular space between the top of the receptacle and the lid through which to dispense the contents of the receptacle, the means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle comprising an element which is separate from and non-functional with respect to the receptacle and lid when the lid is in position closing the receptacle and which is appliable in lid supporting position when the contents of the receptacle are to be dispensed.
 8. A dispensing container for wire or the like as claimed in claim 7 in which the means for supporting the lid in a position spaced above the top of the receptacle comprise a hook-like element hooking over the top of a portion of the receptacle and having a portion vertically supporting the lid. 